JP5453033B2 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine capable of playing with a plurality of games according to set values.

  In a conventional slot machine, an internal lottery table is selected according to a set value set by the game hall side, and an internal lottery is performed according to the internal lottery table. In addition, various game characteristics are provided according to the player's taste, such as a so-called AT function that can increase the winning rate by notifying the player of an internal winning combination for a predetermined period.

JP 2009-66184 A

However, if only one game is mounted on one model, the target player is limited, and if that game is not accepted, the model itself is a failure. End up.
In order to avoid such a risk, a technique has been disclosed that can realize a plurality of game characteristics in one game machine without changing the payout rate (see Patent Document 1).
However, if the gameability is changed, there is a risk of harming the profit that would have been given to the player if the gameability before the change was continued. In addition, even if the player who played before the change does not continue the game the next day, another player who aims to play on that machine the next day in the hope that the advantageous state will continue The result will betray their expectations.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine that does not unduly harm a player's profit even when a plurality of games are incorporated into one model. is there.

The slot machine of the present invention includes a set value storage means for storing a plurality of types of set values that define the winning probability of a combination, a set value operation means that is operated by a game hall side to set the set values, A set value setting means for setting one set value among a plurality of types of set values stored in the set value storage means in accordance with an operation of the means; and a plurality of types of symbols in a predetermined arrangement in a plurality of symbol display areas According to the operation of the game start operation means, the game start operation means operated by the player to start the game in a state where the game medium is inserted, and the setting value setting Internal lottery means for executing an internal lottery for determining an internal winning combination from a plurality of types of combinations based on a set value set by the means and establishing an internal winning flag corresponding to the determined internal winning combination , A stop operation means operated by a player to stop the display of the fluctuation of the symbol by the symbol fluctuation display means, and a symbol corresponding to the internal winning flag in accordance with the operation of the stop operation means. It is determined whether or not a combination of display control means for drawing within the range and stopping display in the symbol display area, and symbols stopped and displayed in each symbol display area of the symbol variation display means is a predetermined winning symbol Only in a game in which a winning determination means, a specific state generating means for generating a specific state advantageous for a player, and a setting value included in a predetermined first setting category among the plurality of types of setting values are set. A right accumulating means capable of accumulatively accumulating the right to generate a state, and the setting value operating means in a state in which the right accumulating means accumulates the rights is different from the first setting category. And a set value changing process means for processing for preventing extinction of the right when the operation for changing the setting value included in a predetermined second setting segment is, the set value change processing means Is the second set included in the second set category different from the first set value included in the first set category before the change by the set value operating unit in the state where the right storage unit has accumulated the right. When an operation for changing to the set value is performed, the second set value and the payout rate are changed to the third set value included in the first set category, and the right accumulating means accumulates. The set value setting means changes the set value from the third set value to the second set value after all the rights that have been lost .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the right storage means performs a change operation from the setting value of the first setting category to the setting value of the second setting category in a state where the right is accumulated, the right is prevented from disappearing. Therefore, it is possible to secure a profit that the player should be able to obtain by the right. As a result, it is possible to improve the rate of attracting customers at the time of opening a store without betraying the player's expectation that the advantageous state of the previous day is continuing.
Also, until the setting value included in the second setting category is changed to the set game, the payout rate is set to the same setting value as the changed setting value, ensuring the player's profit. On the other hand, it is possible to accurately adjust the appearance.

The functional block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the slot machine in one Embodiment of this invention Front view of slot machine Diagram showing reel arrangement The figure which shows the relationship between the role, the winning symbol design and the payout Schematic showing the overall configuration of the system for the amusement hall The figure which shows the winning probability table of model A The figure which shows the AT lottery table of model A State transition diagram showing changes in normal gaming state FIG. 8 equivalent diagram showing the ART type Flow chart showing the operation of the slot machine Figure showing classification data (on the day) by model setting The figure which shows the data classified by type A

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the game room system. A lending device 2 and a call lamp 3 are installed in the game room corresponding to the slot machine 1, and a game room management device 4 is installed in the management room. The relay device 5 is connected to two slot machines 1, two lending devices 2, two call lamps 3, and a game hall management device 4. The game hall management device 4 manages the slot machine 1 by receiving a game signal transmitted from the gaming machine side (slot machine 1, lending device 2) via the relay device 5. Although omitted in FIG. 5, hundreds of gaming machines are actually managed by the game hall management device 4.

  The game hall management device 4 manages the game data of each slot machine 1 and transmits the game data to the management server 7 through the Internet 6 after the end of business. The management server 7 collectively manages the sales data transmitted from the game hall management devices 4 of the member stores nationwide, and transmits the totaled results to each game hall management device 4.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a front appearance of the slot machine 1. A display window 8 (corresponding to the symbol display area) is provided on the front of the slot machine 1, and the player can visually recognize the symbol of the reel 9 (corresponding to symbol variation display means) provided inside through the display window 8. It has become.
As shown in FIG. 3, the symbols are drawn on the circumferential surfaces of the left reel 9a, the middle reel 9b, and the right reel 9c. When the reels 9a to 9c are stopped, the upper, middle, and A symbol is displayed corresponding to the lower row. The display window 8 is provided with a total of five winning lines (three horizontal lines corresponding to the upper, middle, and lower stages and two diagonally arranged) (shown by broken lines in FIG. 2). An active line display unit 10 for displaying the activated winning line is provided on the side of the, and a corresponding winning is generated when the winning symbols are aligned on any winning line. .

  Above the display window 8, there are a liquid crystal display unit 11 for displaying various information such as a payout progress state of medals in the bonus state, a lamp unit 12 including various lamps, and a speaker 13 for outputting various sound effects. Is provided. Below the display window 8 are provided a MAXBET button 14 for inserting a credit medal, a credit settlement button 15 for settlement of a credit medal, and a medal slot 16 for inserting a medal. A left stop button 18, a middle stop button 19, and a right stop button 20 are provided as stop operation means (corresponding to a game start operation means). On the right side of the display window 8, a payout number display unit 21 for displaying the number of payout medals and a credit display unit 22 for displaying the number of credit medals are provided. Further, a medal payout opening 23 through which medals are paid out and a tray 24 for receiving medals paid out from the medal payout opening 23 are provided at the lowermost front portion of the slot machine 1.

  When the slot machine 1 operates the start lever 17 in a series of game start operations, that is, in a state where a player has inserted a medal into the medal slot 16 or a credit medal is inserted by operating the MAXBET button 14, the internal lottery is performed. At the same time, the reels 9a to 9c are started (rotation operation is started). After starting each reel 9a-9c, the slot machine 1 stops each reel 9a-9c according to operation of each stop button 18-20, and complete | finishes 1 game. If the result of the internal lottery is winning, an internal winning flag (big bonus combination (BB combination) flag, regular bonus combination (RB combination) flag, small combination flag, Replay combination flag) is set to “1” (established), and stop control including so-called slip control (retraction control) based on the internal winning flag (the reels 9a to 9c are awarded according to the type of the internal winning flag) The control is performed to stop at the symbol or the lost symbol), and the number of medals corresponding to the winning symbol is paid out from the medal payout opening 23. The pull-in control is a control capable of drawing and stopping up to four symbols on the winning line from when the operation of each of the stop buttons 18 to 20 is detected.

  FIG. 4 shows the relationship between a combination, a winning combination symbol, and a payout. As a winning combination symbol, a bonus combination A symbol, a bonus combination B symbol, a nine combination combination A to C, a five combination combination, a two combination combination, and a replay combination are set.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1 described above. The control unit 25 is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, backup RAM (corresponding to set value storage means), I / O, and the like. The start lever 17, the left stop button 18, and the middle stop button 19 described above. The operation signals are input from the right stop button 20, the MAXBET button 14, and the credit check button 15.

  The control unit 25 (equivalent to setting value setting means, internal lottery means, display control means, winning determination means, specific state generation means, and setting value change processing means) determines the authenticity and passage of medals inserted into the medal slot 16. The inserted medal detection signal is input from the inserted medal detection unit 26 to be determined, and the setting signal is input from the set value operation unit 27 (corresponding to the set value operation means). Further, the control unit 25 detects each of the reel driving units 29 that drive the reel motors 28a to 28c corresponding to the reels 9a to 9c and the passage of the reference position pieces provided on the reels 9a to 9c. A reference position detection unit 31 that detects a reference position based on detection signals from the sensors 30a to 30c, a medal payout unit 32 that pays out medals from the medal payout port 23, the above-described effective line display unit 10, a payout number display unit 21, and The credit display unit 22 is connected, and the display control unit 33, the sound output control unit 34, and the lamp control unit 35 are connected. The display control unit 33 controls various display operations in the liquid crystal display unit 11, the sound output control unit 34 controls various sound output operations from the speaker 13, and the lamp control unit 35 performs various operations in the lamp unit 12. Controls the lighting operation and blinking operation.

  The control unit 25 is based on each input signal and the control program stored in the ROM, and the reel driving unit 29, the medal paying unit 32, the effective line display unit 10, the payout number display unit 21, the credit display unit 22, and the display control. The operation of the unit 33, the sound output control unit 34, and the lamp control unit 35 is controlled. In addition, an out signal (1 pulse output for each insertion of a medal or a bet of 1 credit medal), a safe signal (1 pulse output for each payout of 1 medal or 1 credit medal), a game signal (1 game start) 1 pulse output every time) and the generation of bonus signals (level signal output during bonus state).

  When the slot machine 1 is, for example, the model A, the internal lottery of each winning combination is executed based on the winning probability table, and the drawing control is performed so that the winning symbol corresponding to the winning winning combination is won. If a small role has not won a prize even though the small role has been won internally, the small role that has been won internally becomes invalid. On the other hand, if the bonus combination is not won even though the bonus combination is won internally, the bonus combination flag is carried over until the bonus combination is won.

  FIG. 6 shows a winning probability table for model A, and the numbers shown indicate the denominator of the winning probability. The winning probability table is divided into ART types with setting values 1, 3 and 5 (corresponding to the first setting category) and normal types with setting values 2, 4 and 6 (corresponding to the second setting category), Each type is set such that the greater the set value, the higher the bonus winning probability. Further, the nine-piece combination A to C, which is a single combination, is set only for the ART type, and the nine-piece combination A + 9-piece combination B + 9-piece combination C, which is a simultaneous winning combination, is set only for the normal type. As for the replay combination, the same winning probability is set regardless of the type in the RT2 state which is a normal state described later, and the ART type winning probability is set high in the RT0 state and the RT1 state.

  As will be described later, in the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment, if 9 winning combinations are won internally in the RT0 state, it is advantageous to miss the 9 winning combinations, and if 9 winning combinations are internally won in the RT1 state. Since it is constructed so that it is more advantageous to win the 9 winning combination, it has an AT function to notify the type of 9 winning combination, and an AT lottery table for generating the AT function is provided. Have.

  FIG. 7 shows an AT lottery table. In the bonus state corresponding to the number of times of winning, a winning random number is set for winning the 5 cards. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the AT winning probability is set to be extremely high when the number of AT wins is 0, and is set to be lower as the number of AT wins increases. In addition, as the random number for AT lottery (0 to 65535), a random number extracted again is used separately from the random number acquired at the time of the internal lottery. In addition, the maximum number of AT wins is set to 11 times.

  8 and 9 are state transition diagrams showing changes in the gaming state of the slot machine 1, FIG. 8 is a normal type (setting values = 2, 4, 6), and FIG. 9 is an ART type (setting values = 1, 3, 3). The case of 5) is shown.

<Operation common to both>
(1) There are four game states: RT0 state, RT1 state, RT2 state, and bonus state.
(2) The winning probabilities of bonus combinations A and B in the RT0 state, RT1 state, and RT2 state increase as the set value increases in each type.
(3) After completion of the bonus state, the RT0 state is generated.

<Normal type (setting value = 2, 4, 6)>
In the RT0 state, the RT1 state, and the RT2 state, the winning probabilities of the small combination are the same, and the winning probabilities of the replay combination are almost the same. As a result, the game play is similar to that of a slot machine not equipped with AT and RT.

<ART type (setting value = 1, 3, 5)>
(1) If the AT counter value is equal to or greater than 1 in the RT0 state, the type is notified at the time of internal winning of the nine winning combinations A to C, and 1 is subtracted from the AT counter value. The player can generate an RT1 state that is advantageous to the player by intentionally missing the winning combination of 9 sheets in the RT0 state. On the other hand, if nine winning combinations A to C win in the RT0 state, the player falls to the RT2 state, which is disadvantageous for the player.
(2) Even in the RT1 state, the winning probability of the replay combination is set high similarly to the RT0 state, and the types of the nine winning combinations are notified. When 50 games have elapsed, the game ends and an RT0 state occurs. When the type of the nine winning combination won in the RT0 state is informed, the player needs to make sure that the nine winning combination does not win in order to generate the RT1 state. When the RT1 state occurs, the winning probability of the replay combination increases and the winning probability of the 9-piece combination increases, so that the player can receive an internal lottery of the bonus combination while increasing his / her medals.
(3) The AT lottery is performed at the time of (i) each game in the bonus state and (ii) internal winning of the five-piece combination in the non-bonus state. When the AT lottery is won, the value of the number of wins is added to the AT counter value.

Note that the gaming state does not change when the power is turned on or reset. However, a predetermined game state (for example, RT2 state) may be set when the power is turned on or reset.
Further, the AT is generated in response to the internal winning of a specific combination as in the present embodiment, and is also generated in response to the end of the bonus state, the specific symbol being stopped and displayed, etc. Anyway.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the slot machine 1. The control unit 25 determines whether or not the setting key is received in the power OFF state (S1). When the employee changes the setting value of the slot machine 1 after the business is finished or before the business is finished, the power of the slot machine 1 is turned off, and the key of the setting key of the setting value operation unit 27 inside the slot machine 1 Insert the setting key.

  When the control unit 25 receives the setting key in the power OFF state (S1: YES), the control unit 25 switches to the setting change mode (S2). When the power source is turned on in this state (S3: YES), the credit display unit. 22 shows the current set value. Every time the setting change button of the setting value operation unit 27 is operated (change operation) (S5: YES), the display is switched (incremented by 1) (S6).

  The administrator operates the start lever 17 when the desired set value is displayed. When the start lever 17 is operated (S7: YES), the control unit 25 confirms that the AT counter value is 0 (S8: NO), and then the set value displayed on the credit display unit 22 (S13). For example, when 5 is set, 5 can be set as a set value in the slot machine 1 by operating the start lever 17 in a state where 5 is displayed on the credit display section.

When any one of the set values is set as described above, the control unit 25 causes each combination to win internally with a probability corresponding to the set value set in the winning probability table shown in FIG. The game is controlled so as to be of the type corresponding to the value.
(Normal type)
In the case of setting values 2, 4, and 6, control is performed as a normal type. In the case of this normal type, the winning probability of each combination is almost the same in any of the RT0 state, the RT1 state, and the RT2 state.
(For ART type)
In the case of setting values 1, 3, and 5, control is performed as an ART type. In the case of this ART type, when the five winning combination is internally won in the RT2 state, the random number is extracted again and AT lottery is performed. In this case, as shown in the AT lottery table for model A in FIG. 7, when the number of wins is 0, the AT win probability is extremely high as 52000/65536, and the win probability decreases as the number of AT wins increases. Since it is set, there is a high probability of winning the AT at the beginning of the game in the slot machine 1, and when winning, the AT count value is incremented. When 200 games have elapsed in the RT2 state, the RT0 state is generated. In this RT0 state, the winning probabilities of the other combinations are the same as those in the RT2 state except for the replay combination in which the winning probability is 1 / 1.5.

  Now, if any of the nine winning combinations in the RT0 state is won internally, if the AT count value is 1 or more, the type of the nine winning combination is notified by the liquid crystal display unit 11, and the AT count value is calculated. Decrement. When the player is notified of the type of the 9-sheet combination, the player presses the 9-port combination that is notified to intentionally miss out.

The control unit 25 generates the RT1 state when the nine winning combinations are missed. In this RT1 state, since the background of the BGM and the liquid crystal display is different from the RT0 state, the player can recognize that the RT1 state has been reached. Therefore, when the type of the 9-piece combination is notified, it is necessary to make an effort so that the notified 9-piece combination wins.
When 50 games have elapsed in the RT1 state, the RT0 state is generated. Therefore, when the nine-piece combination is won internally when the AT count value is 1 or more in the RT0 state, the type of the nine-piece combination is notified again.

  If the bonus combination is won internally in any of the RT0 state, the RT1 state, or the RT2 state, but the bonus combination is not won, the bonus combination flag is carried over until the bonus combination is won. When the bonus combination wins, a bonus state occurs, and the small combination is always won internally, and the small combination symbol is drawn. This bonus state is ended by paying out 300 medals. In the bonus state, a random number for AT lottery is extracted for each game separately from the random number for internal lottery, and AT lottery is performed for each game.

  In the RT0 state, if nine winning combinations are won internally with the AT count value being 0 as a result of the occurrence of AT, the type of the nine winning combination will not be notified. For this reason, the player cannot reliably miss the nine winning combination and is in a disadvantageous RT2 state when winning. On the other hand, if nine winning combinations are not won by chance, the RT1 state is set.

  Now, when the set value of the slot machine 1 is changed from ART type 5 to normal type, for example 6, after the end of business, since the AT function is not generated in the normal type, the accumulated AT count value becomes invalid. End up. Since the AT count value becomes invalid in this manner is disadvantageous for the player, the AT count value is prevented from becoming invalid as follows.

  When the start lever 17 is operated in the setting value changing process of FIG. 10 (S7: YES) and the AT count value is 1 or more (S8: YES), the control unit 25 determines whether to change to the normal type. (S9), and when changing to the normal type (S9: YES), a warning display is executed (S10). Therefore, when the warning is displayed, the employee determines whether the type change is good or not. If the employee determines that the type change is not desirable, the employee presses the setting change button of the set value operation unit 27 to depress the ART type. One of the set values (1, 3, 5) is selected. On the other hand, if it is determined that the type change is desirable, the normal type (2, 4, 6) is selected. When changing from the normal type to the ART type, no warning is displayed because the AT function is not accumulated.

  On the other hand, the game hall management device 4 groups the slot machines 1 having both normal type and ART type gaming characteristics by type (model A, model B...) And classification (normal type, ART type). The data related to the slot machine 1 to be managed is transmitted to the management server 7 through the Internet 6 as own store data after the end of business. The management server 7 collectively manages the data transmitted from the game hall management devices 4 of member stores nationwide.

FIG. 11 shows data (on the day) for each machine type setting category of the slot machine 1 managed by the game hall management device 4, (a) is own store data, (b) is other store data (national average data). The following items are set.
Setting category: “A” = ART type, “N” = normal type.
Ratio …… The ratio of the number of each setting category to the total number of the model.
Out (Number of inputs) …… Average number of inputs in each setting category Sales …… Average sales in each setting category Gross profit …… Average gross profit in each setting category Note that other store data is the national average, but store characteristics (district , Exchange rate, scale, etc.).

  Amusement center managers can obtain game information for each gameability (ART type, normal type) from their store data, and therefore based on the degree of contribution to management (out, sales, gross profit) The set value can be selected above. In addition, it is possible to secure how much out, sales, and profit margins for each gameability from other store data, and how much difference there is for each gameability. For example, with regard to the model A, when the ART type is set, the gross profit is large for the operating time, so that it can be understood that it contributes to the profit of the game hall very efficiently. Regarding this point, the same tendency is shown in the national average, and further sales and gross profit can be expected. Therefore, it can be seen that it is desirable to increase the number of ART type set units.

The game hall management device 4 also manages data classified by type A, (a) shows own store data, (b) shows other store data, and the following items are set. .
A percent: The ratio of the number of ART type units to the total number of models.
“0 to 2” is 0% or more and less than 20%.
“2-4” is 20% or more and less than 40%.
“4-6” is 40% or more and less than 60%,
"6-8" is 60% or more and less than 80%,
“8-10” is 80% to 100%.
Out (number of inputs): Average number of inputs per A percent.
Sales: Average sales for each A percent.
Gross profit: Average gross profit for each A percent.
Number of times: Number of sales in each A percent.
Sample: Number of sample stores.

  The manager of the amusement hall can analyze from the own store data in which A percent the sales and the gross profit can be maximized. Further, by referring to the other store data, it is possible to grasp which A percent is optimum and how much sales and gross profits are obtained when which A percent is obtained. Furthermore, since the A ratio at which sales etc. can be maximized may vary depending on the store characteristics, useful information can be obtained by browsing the aggregated data with the same store characteristics as the own store.

  According to such an embodiment, the slot machine 1 is changed from the ART type of the setting values 1, 3, 5 to the normal type of the setting values 2, 4, 6 in the state where the AT counter value is 1 or more. In this case, since a warning is displayed, it is possible to prevent the game hall manager from accidentally erasing the AT count value, and to secure the profits by the internal winning notification of the nine-player combination with the AT function that the player should be able to obtain It becomes possible to do.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The slot machine 4 may change the setting after the AT counter value becomes 0 when the operation is changed to the normal type when the AT counter value is 1 or more.

  Once the normal type and the ART type have the same payout rate, and an operation to change to the normal type is made, once set the set value for the ART type with the same desired output rate The AT counter value may be changed to a desired set value after it becomes zero. For example, if the set values are the same for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and the count value is 1 or more in a game with the set value 5, the set value is temporarily changed. When the AT counter becomes 0, the set value is changed to 2.

When the AT counter value is 1 or more, the change to the normal type may be restricted. For example, even if the start lever 17 is operated while 2, 4, 6 are displayed on the credit display unit 22, the change is not permitted, or even if the set value change button is operated, 2, 4, 6 is displayed. Instead, only 1, 3, and 5 may be displayed.
If the setting value is changed to the normal type in spite of a warning because the operation to change the setting value to the normal type is performed in a state where the count value is 1 or more, the count value may be set to 0. .

  In the drawings, 1 is a slot machine, 4 is a game machine management device, 7 is a management server, 8 is a display window (symbol display area), 9 is a reel (symbol variation display means), and 17 is a start lever (game start operation means). ), 18 to 20 are stop buttons (stop operation means), 25 is a control unit (setting value storage means, setting value setting means, internal lottery means, display control means, winning determination means, specific state generating means, setting value change processing Equivalent to the means).

Claims (1)

A set value storage means for storing a plurality of types of set values defining the winning probability of the role;
A set value operating means operated by the game hall side to set the set value;
A set value setting means for setting one set value from a plurality of types of set values stored in the set value storage means in response to an operation of the set value operation means;
A symbol variation display means for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols according to a predetermined arrangement in a plurality of symbol display areas;
Game start operation means operated by the player to start the game in a state in which a game medium is inserted;
In accordance with the operation of the game start operation means, an internal lottery for determining an internal winning combination from a plurality of types of combinations based on the set value set by the set value setting means is executed, and the determined internal winning combination Internal lottery means for establishing an internal winning flag corresponding to
A stop operation means operated by a player to stop the display of the variation of the symbol by the symbol variation display means;
In response to an operation of the stop operation means, a display control means for drawing a symbol corresponding to the internal winning flag within a predetermined pull-in range and stopping and displaying it in the symbol display area;
Winning determination means for determining whether a combination of symbols stopped and displayed in each symbol display area of the symbol variation display means is a predetermined winning symbol;
Specific state generating means for generating a specific state advantageous to the player;
Right accumulation means capable of accumulatively accumulating the right to generate the specific state only in a game in which a setting value included in a predetermined first setting category among the plurality of types of setting values is set;
When the right storage means stores the right and the setting value operation means performs an operation for changing to a setting value included in a predetermined second setting category different from the first setting category. Setting value change processing means for performing processing for preventing disappearance ,
The set value change processing means is the second setting different from the first set value included in the first setting category before change by the set value operating means in the state where the right accumulating means has accumulated the right. When an operation for changing to the second setting value included in the category is performed, the second setting value and the payout rate are changed to the third setting value included in the first setting category, and the A slot machine characterized in that the set value setting means changes the third set value to the second set value after all of the rights stored in the right storage means are extinguished .

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